Exposure of emerging adults to sociocultural practices that affect their mental health is more and more frequent, playing an important role in the manifestation of a drive for thinness and muscularity. The purpose of the study was to compare the drive for thinness and drive for muscularity, among emerging adult university women from Chile and Spain. We evaluated socio-cultural factors, body satisfaction and psychological variables linked to body image using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design. We used a correlational-causal scope, with a sample of 230 participants (n Chileans= 155; n Spanish= 75). The results evidenced a significant difference between the two groups in drive for muscularity, being higher in Spain. The predictive model of drive for thinness was made up of the variables of perfectionism, negative body satisfaction, social pressure from the family, the media and Spanish nationality, explaining 45% of the variance. The model for drive for muscularity predicted 16% of the variance based on Spanish nationality, drive for thinness, social pressure from the family and regular physical activity. Finally, there is a need to encourage future inquiries and delve deeper into the issues that allow young women at higher risk of suffering from any of these problems to be prevented.